Sometimes there isn't a sin.

Joh 9:3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.


Sometimes there isn't a sin.


When you cry out why me, as life takes a turn that brings you pain, it's common to wonder if perhaps there's been something in how you've lived your life to bring the calamity about. Was there something you left undone? Did you not pray enough? Did you get angry unjustly once too often? Did your coveting stain you? Did you not ask for forgiveness for the selfishness you showed? What about your parents? Sometimes the sins of the fathers follow to the children don't they? Clearly they do.


Here in this Biblical instance Jesus is responding to the disciples asking Him why this particular man was born blind. Being born blind is obviously a curse so to speak and the disciples wanted to know who sinned, him or his parents. Jesus answered....neither. The curse of blindness at birth came about because it was something God wanted to happen for His glory. We think how horrible to deprive a person of their sight from birth to manifest your glory but it's an amazing blessing for this man. God allowed this to happen so that His works could be manifested in the blind man. God chose this man for a special calling to serve Him and is there anything greater than to be used for God's purpose? What a blessing he received. Not only was his physical sight restored to him but he had the blessing of having his spiritual sight opened as well at a time when the pharisees were deriding Jesus as being a miracle worker from God.


Could it be that sometimes we suffer to reveal God's glory?


Did that blind man who received his sight go on to never sin again? That's not for me to say but being human as we are and as Paul says, we are wretched creatures that can only live through the grace of God. Paul died daily and we too must die daily. Our self must die daily so that God's glory may shine through in us by His amazing grace and love.


'That the works of God should be made manifest...'


Things don't always have concrete reasons we can grasp hold of and sometimes it is 'that the works of God should be made manifest.'


May the works of God be made manifest in us all, may the glory of the Lord be our goal, not our own glory.


By the grace and the mercy, the everlasting eternal love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.


Amen.